The Massac Youth Soccer League (MYSL) concluded their season with their final games Friday night in Metropolis.

For the second consecutive season, a new record high mark was obtained for players participating within the league. The final league total for the fall season stood at a new top number of 186. This is an increase of over 50 percent more when compared to numbers six years ago based on similar counts of Massac-resident players. This was during the days prior to the creation of MYSL where local youth registered with McCracken County Youth Soccer, which was the only league in the immediate area at that time.

Today MYSL, which has started its third year of existence this fall, continues to trend upward and growing at a steady rate. The Massac league has recently surpassed neighboring McCracken Youth Soccer in the number of players participating, even though the Paducah-based league draws from a much larger available population area.

Over 20 recreational teams were formed and played games this fall, with age groups ranging from Under-4 to the newly formed boys and girls seventh- and eighth-grade squads.

“The record numbers this fall caught even the soccer board off guard since our numbers typically go slightly down each fall due to other sports going on,” said Bret Green, acting president of the Massac Soccer Booster Association which oversees the operation of the youth league. “With these record high numbers this fall, what kind of huge numbers hold in store for the league this upcoming spring? We’re expecting even bigger things to come.

“Not only was the quantity up but also the quality of these recreational players impressive up and down every age-level,” Green continued. “This was evident in the much advanced individual soccer skills and tactics demonstrated in nearly every age level and team when compared to their equivalent competition from McCracken County.”

The league will begin again with registrations for the spring season during the month of February 2014.

Parents can keep up-to-date about future announcements concerning registrations and other soccer-related items through the booster’s website, www.massacsoccer.com.